Williams name Nicholas Latifi as 2019 reserve driver

Latifi said a large part of his role would be simulator driving and helping development of the new Williams car

Canadian Nicholas Latifi will be reserve driver for Williams in 2019.

The 23-year-old, a race-winner in Formula 2, moves from Force India, where he was development driver and took part in some practice sessions in 2018.

At Williams, Latifi will do six practice sessions, two in-season test days, one day of pre-season testing and two tyre tests.

He said it was “a fantastic opportunity to continue my development”.

Traditionally, a reserve driver would step in as a replacement at a grand prix weekend if a race driver was incapacitated, but in this case Latifi could not do that as he does not yet have an F1 ‘super-licence’.